INDEX / ÍNDICE THE LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY

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www.lakechapalasociety.com

Conecciones Advertising Prices / Precios de los Anuncios

2022

Cost / Precio with/ con IVA

Back cover / Contraportada (9 x 11.4” / 23 x 29 cm) ...$5,000 ...$5,800 Inside front & back cover / Contraportada interna (9 x 11.4” / 23 x 29 cm) ...$4,500 ...$5,220 Full page / Página completa (8.2 x 10.5” / 21 x 27 cm) ... $3,600 ...$4,176 1/2 page / 1/2 página (4.7 x 7.2” / 12 x 18.5 cm) ... $2,150 ...$2,494 1/4 page / 1/4 página (3.5 x 4.7” / 9 x 12 cm) ... $1,150 ...$1,334

All prices include free design work. All ads/ad information must be submitted by the 10th of the month for inclusion in the next month’s magazine. Send to [email protected] / Todos los precios incluyen el trabajo de diseño gratuito.Todos los anuncios/información de anuncios deben ser enviados antes del día 10 del mes para su inclusión en la revista del mes siguiente. Enviar a [email protected]

Conecciones Team

The magazine’s name, Conecciones -Connections in English-reflects its purpose, which is to enable the Lake Chapala Society to connect with its community./ El nombre de la revista Conecciones refleja su propósito, favorecer la conexión de The Lake Chapala Society con la comunidad.

THE LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY

—Our mission is to promote the active participation of Lakeside’s inhabitants to improve their quality of life lakeside.

— Our vision is a future where all Lakeside residents continually have a role in enriching the community’s quality of life, vitality and prosperity through the exchange of knowledge, expertise, culture, heritage & language.

—Nuestra Misión es promover la activa participacion de los residentes de la Ribera de Chapala, para mejorar la calidad de vida en la comunidad.

— Nuestra Visión es un futuro donde todos los residentes de La Ribera participen continuamente en mejorar la calidad de vida, vitalidad y prosperidad de la comunidad a través del intercambio de conocimiento, experiencia, cultura, patrimonio y lenguaje.

Board of Directors

President/Presidente: Steve Balfour (2020) Secretary/Secretario: George Radford (2020) Treasurer/Tesorero: Tim Boardman

Directors/Directores: Larry Barnhardt, Christy Caldwell, Richard Chase, Greg Custer, Hunter Johnson III, Leigh Manheim, Yolanda Martínez Llamas

Executive Director/Director Ejecutivo: Luis Pacheco

Publisher/Editorial: Lake Chapala Society Editor-in-Chief/Editor en Jefe: Luis F. Pacheco Managing Editor/Director General: Rachel McMillen

Department Editor External/Editor del Depto. Externo: Harriet Hart Department Editor Internal/Depto. de Edición Interno: Diana Ayala Art & Design/Arte y Diseño: Domitzu Medrano B.

Production Manager/Director de producción: Marianne Carlson Translations/Traducciones: Diana Ayala y Neri Navarro Proof-reader/Revisión final: Miranda Gordon

Mission & Vision

Conecciones welcomes submissions of articles from Lakeside authors We reserve the right to edit as necessary. Submissions should be in MS Word 600 words, and should be directed to

[email protected]. Advertisement inquiries should be directed to [email protected].

Conecciones agradece el envío de artículos. Nos reservamos el derecho de editarlos si es necesario. Los envíos deben ser en MS Word de 600 palabras, y deben dirigirse a [email protected]. Las solicitudes de publicidad deben dirigirse a [email protected].

INDEX / ÍNDICE

2 Message from the President 2 Mensaje del Presidente

4 Diverse Family Models In Jalisco 5 Diversos modelos de familia en Jalisco 6 Rainbow Lining

7 El revestimiento del arco iris 9-10 Artistic Embroidery at LCS 11 Bordado artístico en LCS 12-13 COVER STORY:

Pride Parades for diversity

14 Brian Mattes and the not so Little Theater LCS-1 Activities

LCS-2 LCS Educational Program, Spanish in Action LCS-3 Library Updates, Music Accompanies Us:

LGBTIQ+ Stories

LCS-4 Bus trip, Intercam workshop 15 Brian Mattes y el no tan pequeño teatro 16-17 ARTÍCULO DE PORTADA:

Marchas por la diversidad 18 Brandon and James

20 Rainbow Sunset...

21 Atardecer Arcoiris...

22 First Person Singular: Should You Get a Basset Hound?

24 The Mexican Connection

25 Foreign Footprints in Ajijic: A Review 26 Welcome the Rain

27 Bienvenida la lluvia

28 A Primer on Pets: Think Carefully Before Getting a Parrot

COVER: Guadalajara Pride

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THE LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY

Mensaje del Presidente President’s Message

Feliz mes del orgullo.

En The Lake Chapala Society nos enorgullecemos de ser una organización abierta a todos. Abrazamos a nuestros miembros de la comunidad LGBTQ+ que siguen trabajando por la igualdad.

Es la diversidad de estilos de vida, el origen, la crianza y los talentos que se unen para hacer de esta zona que todos tan cariñosamente se refiere como Lakeside algo único. Estamos muy agradecidos por el enorme número de personas que se unen a nosotros aquí en LCS y que comparten estas cualidades con nosotros. Esto es lo que hace la fuerza de nuestra organización.

Y nos permite compartir lo que cada uno aporta, junto con las muchas cualidades de la comunidad mexicana que nos re- cibe con los brazos y los corazones abiertos. Juntos seguimos creciendo y enriqueciendo nuestros barrios.

Durante los últimos dos años todos hemos tenido que estar abiertos a nuevas posibilidades y cambios en nuestros estilos de vida. Mien- tras la comunidad continúa a través de este período de ajuste de la

“nueva normalidad de Covid”, estamos muy orgullosos de todos nuestros miembros, voluntarios, personal, junta directiva del Con- sejo Consultivo Mexicano y los muchos miembros de la comunidad que hacen de LCS lo que es hoy y más aún - lo que será en el futuro.

Hay una tremenda cantidad de trabajo que se está haciendo en el campus y en los comités para hacer que LCS sea más fuerte, que apoye más nuestros intereses comunes y que sea una mejor organización, así como para mantener nuestra presencia en la mesa con nuestras contrapartes gubernamentales. Si no has estado en el campus últimamente, te invitamos a que te pases a echar otro vistazo.

Si quieres saber más o, mejor aún, si quieres participar para marcar la diferencia, visita nuestra página web y apúntate como voluntario.

Si quieres hacer una donación a nuestro fondo anual, tus dona- ciones son las que hacen posible todo esto. En nuestro sitio web, haz clic en la palabra DONATE en la página de inicio de nuestro sitio web.

https://lakechapalasociety.com

LCS 2.0 es nuestro plan maestro integral a largo plazo. Estamos avanzando fuertemente hacia este plan de “Extender nuestro legado como un oasis para el enriquecimiento personal, la socialización y la colaboración en toda la orilla del lago”.

¿Nos ayudas?

Steve Balfour

Presidente Lake Chapala Society

Happy month of Pride.

At The Lake Chapala Society we pride ourselves on being an organization open to everyone. We embrace our LGBTQ+ members of the community who continue to work towards equality.

It is the diverse life styles, backgrounds, upbringing and talents that come together to make this area we all so lovingly refer to as Lake- side. We are very thankful to the tremendous number of people who join us here at LCS and share these qualities with us so willing- ly. This is what makes the strength of our organization. And allows us to share what we each bring, along with the many qualities of the Mexican community who greet us with open arms and hearts.

Together we continue to grow and enrich our neighborhoods.

During the past couple of years we have all had to be open to new possibilities and changes to our life styles. While the community continues through this “Covid new normal” adjustment period, we are very proud of all our members, volunteers, staff, board of directors Mexican Advisory Council and the many community members who make LCS what it is today and more so - what it will be going forward.

There is a tremendous amount of work being done on campus and in committees to make LCS stronger, more supportive of our com- mon interests and an enhanced organization as well as to maintain our seat at the table with our government counterparts. If you have not been on campus lately we invite you to stop by to take another look.

If you would like to learn more or better yet, if you would like to get involved in making a difference, please visit our website and sign up to be a volunteer. If you would like to make a donation to our annual fund, your gifts are what make all this possible. On our website, click on the word DONATE on our website home page.

https://lakechapalasociety.com

LCS 2.0 is our comprehensive long-range master plan. We are making strong progress towards this plan of “Extending our legacy as an oasis for personal enrichment, socialization and collaboration throughout lake- side”. Won’t you help us?

Steve Balfour

President Lake Chapala Society

This special Pride printed edition of Conecciones

Was made possible thanks to the generous

donations from:

David Ellison Edgar Antonio

Brian Mattes Bill Heath Terry Rosson

Bobby Lancaster, in loving memory of Dan Blackburn Ajijic Cares, for the memory

of Michael Schaible

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Recently in the Jalisco State Congress we approved several legal reforms aimed at guaranteeing the rights of all Jalisco citizens regardless of their sexual preference.

Undoubtedly it was not an easy or smooth legislative process.

Forces of resistance to change exercised different pressure measures, some of which could be classified as aggression and disrespect.

However, after dialogue and analysis, most of the popular rep- resentatives considered it imperative to get our entity out of the backwardness in which it was kept in terms of legislation in favor of the LGBTQ community.

To recognize, as never before, International Gay Pride Day and the whole month of June, a period in which the events, actions and commemorations related to the events that took place in Stonewall in 1969 are celebrated, is surely an unbeatable success for all members of the LGBTQ community in Jalisco and in the Chapala Riviera.

One of these legal modifications consisted of changes to different articles of the Civil Code of the State with the objective of eliminating from said ordinance the requirement that in order to contract a marriage the interested parties must be a man and a woman. Now it is simply two people, either women or men.

This small modification to one of the laws of the State will not only give legal security to thousands of people, but also dignity, because the rights and guarantees are equal for all.

In Jalisco, as well as in this country and this planet, there are no people of first and second category or importance. Human dignity is what gives wealth to each one of us, leaving aside what we prefer or what we like.

Prior to this legal reform, which was approved by the majority of the legislators that make up the Congress

of the State of Jalisco, some did not have the

“privilege” of getting married, simply because they did not conform to hegemonic correct- ness. Today we must shout to the four winds:

there is not only one form of family.

In this beautiful state of Jalisco that throughout its history has welcomed hundreds of thousands of people from other regions and other countries, we can proudly say that those families, those unions formed by two people of the same sex, are no less worthy than those already known traditionally, because in our State we are all equal.

In this context of dignity and respect for others, we also include in the law the recognition of the gender identity of transgender persons, thus guaranteeing health services, education, labor in- sertion, etc., among other benefits that every Mexican citizen is entitled to, in order to safeguard this human right.

Local legislators consider it imperative to safeguard the rights of

“trans” persons and promote non-discrimination. Therefore we agreed to modify the regulatory framework so that when a new birth certificate is requested for the recognition of gender identity, the original certificate is annotated and reserved, in order to safeguard the human right to privacy.

A third reform that ratifies the commitment of the majority of the local deputies to diversity and respect, was the modification to the Penal Code to prohibit any form of ‘conversion therapy.

The law will now punish the individual or legal entity that im- parts, promotes, employs, applies, obligates or finances any type of method, treatment, therapy, non-surgical practice or service, with or without lucrative purposes, with the purpose of modi- fying, reorienting, impairing, restricting or annulling the sexual orientation or sexual identity of a person.

These rights are now firmly and legally established and in the State Congress we will continue working for the benefit of all.

Diverse Family Models In Jalisco

By Dolores López Jara

Deputy of the Congress of the State of Jalisco

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www.lakechapalasociety.com Recientemente en el Congreso del Estado de Jalisco aprobamos diversas reformas legales encaminadas a garantizar los derechos de todos los jaliscienses sin importar su preferencia sexual.

Sin duda alguna no fue un proceso legislativo sencillo ni terso, fuerzas de resistencia al cambio ejercieron distintas medidas de presión, algunas que se podrían catalogar como agresiones y faltas de respeto.

Sin embargo, luego del diálogo y el análisis la mayoría de los representantes populares consideramos imperativo sacar a nuestra entidad del rezago en el que se mantenía en cuanto legislación a favor de las personas de la comunidad LGBTQ.

Inmejorable contexto para que todos ellas en Jalisco y en la Ribera de Chapala, reciban como nunca el Día Internacional del Orgullo Gay y todo el mes de junio, periodo en el que se extienden los eventos, acciones y conmemoraciones relativos a los hechos sucedidos en Stonewall en el año de 1969.

Una de esas modificaciones legales consistió en cambios a distintos artículos del Código Civil del Estado con el obje- tivo de eliminar de dicho ordenamiento que para contraer matrimonio los interesados deban ser hombre y mujer, sino simplemente dos personas, ya sean mujeres u hombres.

Esta pequeña modificación a una de leyes del Estado vendrá a darle no sólo seguridad jurídica a miles de personas, sino también dignidad, porque los derechos y las garantías son para todos en forma igualitaria.

En Jalisco, así como en este país y este planeta, no existen personas de primera y de segunda categoría o importancia, la dignidad humana es lo que viene a dar riqueza a cada uno de nosotros, dejando de lado lo que prefiramos o lo que nos guste.

Previo a esta reforma legal, que fue aprobada por la mayoría de los legisladores que integramos el Congreso del Estado de Jalisco, algunos no tenían el “privilegio” de contraer matrimonio, esto, por el hecho de no pertenecer a lo hegemónica- mente correcto. Hoy día debemos gritar a los cuatro vientos:

no hay una sola forma de familia.

Porque en este bello Jalisco que ha acogido a través de su historia a cientos de miles de personas originarias de otras regiones y otros países, podemos decir con orgullo que aquellas familias, aquellas uniones formadas por dos personas del mismo sexo

Diversos Modelos de Familia en Jalisco

Por Dolores López Jara

Diputada del Congreso del Estado de Jalisco

En ese contexto de dignidad y respeto al prójimo, también incluimos en la ley el reconocimiento a la identidad de género de personas transgénero, garantizando con ello: los servicios de salud, educación, la inserción laboral, entre otros beneficios que todo ciudadano mexicano tiene derecho, a efecto de salvaguardar este derecho humano.

Los legisladores locales consideramos imperativo privilegiar los derechos de las personas “trans” y promover la no dis- criminación, por ello acordamos modificar el marco normati- vo para que cuando se solicite el levantamiento de una nueva acta de nacimiento para el reconocimiento de identidad de género, se haga la anotación y reserva del acta primigenia, a efecto de salvaguardar el derecho humano de privacidad.

Una tercera reforma que ratifica el compromiso de la mayoría de los diputados locales para con la diversidad y el respeto, fue la modificación al Código Penal para prohibir y castigar a la persona física o moral que imparta, promueva, emplee, aplique, obligue o financie cualquier tipo de método, trata- miento, terapia, practica no quirúrgica o servicio, con o sin fines de lucro con el objeto de modificar, reorientar, menos- cabar, restringir o anular la orientación sexual o identidad sexual de una persona.

Los derechos no se consultan y en el Congreso del Estado habremos de seguir trabajando en beneficio de todas y todos.

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I never chose to be gay. Indeed, I spent nearly two decades attempting to deny it, run away from it, pray it away...anything.

As a teen, I furtively scanned the la- dies’ bra and underwear sections of the Sears catalog, desperately trying to find the featured women sexy. Lat- er in the full throes of puberty, my gut would clench tightly whenever I saw an attractive boy. “No! No! No!” I plead- ed, suppressing all my crushes.

In college, I dared to confess my “dirty”

thoughts to the dorm rector. The priest tried to console me with the idea that longings were not evil in themselves;

the implication being, unfortunately, that acting on them would be. I buried myself deep in the closet. Deeper still because of AIDS. If I ever tried anything sexual with a man, I could never, ever give blood again, since the blood of all homosexuals was — and is — considered to be tainted. There could be no going back even if I just “tested the water” once.

Very deep, indeed, since I eventual- ly became a teacher. Everyone knew that “gay” was synonymous with “pe- dophile.” I spent the next decade im- mersing myself in noble workaholism

— becoming a columnist, a mentor teacher, a teacher trainer, a community activist, a hike leader, the member of multiple boards — all a pathetic at- tempt to run away from intimacy with myself or anyone else, and to convince myself and the world that, despite my

terrible, secret shame, I was still a worthwhile human being.

When I turned thirty, however, I dared to meet with a counselor. He oh-so- gently nudged me out of the closet into the light of my life. “I can’t tell you what you are, David” (knowing I’d have to be the one to tell myself), “but I can tell you it’s time to stop running away. You need to get out and meet some gay people.”

And so, I went on my first hike with the local gay and lesbian section of the Sierra Club. I was confused when I arrived at the trailhead. None of the other hikers looked gay. (I guess I was expecting pink spandex with feath- ers.) Once on the trail, I just listened.

One hiker complained about her rent, another about his boss. Three debat- ed California politics. Two men who’d been together for 17 years bickered about whose turn it was to do the laun- dry. Why, these homosexuals were just ordinary people. They seemed happy!

Who’d have thunk? Many hikes later, I came to respect them — and, through them, myself.

Several hurdles remained. In a subse- quent meeting with the therapist, I finally, haltingly, confided my most hei- nous secret: I found some of the young men in my classes attractive. I was ter- rified he’d have to inform the authorities and end my career. That therapist did a marvelous thing. He looked at my angst-ridden face for a brief moment, and then burst out laughing. He took

off his glasses, wiped his eyes, all the while saying, “Oh, David! Oh, David!”

Finally, “I can see how this has tor- mented you! Well, let me be the first to let you know: teenagers are gorgeous!

Do you think the straight teachers don’t notice? I know you’re a fine teacher, Da- vid. And you’ll be even better if you just learn to accept yourself and relax.”

Slowly, I did. Three years later, after working my painstaking way up the ladder of family and friends, coming out to the easiest ones first, there remained only my parents. Mom ini- tially just cried. “I’ve always pitied gay people,” she said. Dad looked over at my pained face and Mom’s tears, pulled himself off the couch, came to me placing my head in his hands, and said, “That must have been really hard.

I’m proud of you!” Then, he kissed me on my forehead. I later recounted that moment in homage at his funeral.

Mom came round quickly. My favorite line of hers remains, “I pray every day that God will send you a boyfriend, David. It felt really odd at first, but I’m getting used to it.” I lead a charmed existence. And, part of that charm is being gay. No, I didn’t choose to be gay. I finally chose only to live an authentic

Rainbow Lining

By David Ellison

life, to be myself. Even all the tortured years in the closet, despite the deep scars they left, had their rainbow lining. Com- ing out forced me to plumb myself to my core, find a courage I doubt I would have otherwise, made me a better person and teacher, and introduced me to some of the finest people in my life — including and especially my husband, Edgar.

It’s been a difficult journey, but in the end a grand adventure.

I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

Dave and Edgar

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Cuando era adolescente, escudriñaba furtivamente las secciones de sujetadores y ropa interior femenina del catálogo de Sears, intentando desesperadamente que las mujeres que aparecían fueran sexys.

Más tarde, en plena pubertad, se me apre- taban las tripas cada vez que veía a un chico atractivo. “¡No! ¡No! ¡No!” suplicaba, reprimiendo todos mis enamoramientos.

En la universidad, me atreví a confesar mis “sucios” pensamientos al rector de la residencia. El sacerdote trató de conso- larme con la idea de que los anhelos no eran malos en sí mismos; la implicación era, desafortunadamente, que actu- ar sobre ellos lo sería. Me encerré en lo más profundo del closet. Más profunda- mente aún a causa del SIDA. Si alguna vez intentaba algo sexual con un hombre, nunca más podría donar sangre, ya que la sangre de todos los homosexuales se consideraba -y se considera- contamina- da. No habría vuelta atrás aunque sólo

“probara el agua” una vez.

Muy profundo, por cierto, ya que finalmente me convertí en profesor. Todo el mundo sabía que “gay” era sinónimo de “pedófilo”. Pasé la siguiente década sumergiéndome en una noble adicción al trabajo -convirtiéndome en columni- sta, profesor mentor, formador de profesores, activista comunitario, líder de excursiones, miembro de múltiples jun- tas directivas-, todo ello en un patético intento de huir de la intimidad conmigo mismo o con cualquier otra persona, y de convencerme a mí mismo y al mundo de que, a pesar de mi terrible y secreta vergüenza, seguía siendo un ser humano que valía la pena.

Sin embargo, cuando cumplí los trein- ta años, me atreví a reunirme con un consejero. Él me sacó del closet y me hizo ver la luz de mi vida. “No puedo decirte lo que eres, David” (sabiendo que tendría que ser yo quien me lo dijera),

“pero puedo decirte que es hora de dejar de huir. Tienes que salir y conocer a gente gay”.

Y así, fui a mi primera excursión con la sección local de gays y lesbianas del Sierra Club. Estaba confundido cuando llegué al inicio del sendero. Ninguno de los otros excursionistas parecía gay. (Supongo que esperaba licras rosas y plumas), Una vez en el sendero, me limité a escuchar.

Una excursionista se quejó de la renta, otra de su jefe. Tres debatieron sobre la política de California. Dos hombres que llevaban 17 años juntos discutían sobre a quién le tocaba lavar la ropa. Estos homosexuales eran gente común y corrien- tes. Parecían felices. ¿Quién lo hubiera pensado? Muchas caminatas después, llegué a respetarlos y, a través de ellos, a mí mismo.

Quedaban varios obstáculos. En una re- unión posterior con el terapeuta, finalmente, y de forma vacilante, le confié mi secreto más atroz: algunos de los jóvenes de mis clases me resultaban atractivos.

Me aterraba que tuviera que informar a las autoridades y acabar con mi carrera.

El terapeuta hizo algo maravilloso. Miró mi rostro angustiado durante un breve instante y luego se echó a reír. Se quitó las gafas y se limpió los ojos, sin dejar de decir: “¡Oh, David! Oh, David!” Finalmente,

“¡Ya veo cómo te ha atormentado esto!

Pues déjame ser el primero en decírtelo:

¡los adolescentes son preciosos! ¿Crees que los profesores heterosexuales no se

dan cuenta? Sé que eres un buen profesor, David. Y serás aún mejor si aprendes a aceptarte a ti mismo y a relajarte”.

Poco a poco, lo hice. Tres años más tarde, después de trabajar mi camino hacia la escalera de la familia y los amigos, saliendo primero con los más fáciles, sólo quedaban mis padres. Al principio, mamá se puso a llorar. “Siempre me han dado pena los gays”, dijo. Papá miró mi cara de dolor y las lágrimas de mamá, se levantó del sofá, se acercó a mí poniendo mi cabeza entre sus manos y dijo: “Debe haber sido muy duro. Estoy orgulloso de ti”. Luego, me besó en la frente. Más tarde conté ese momento en el homenaje que le hicieron en su funeral.

Mamá volvió en sí rápidamente. Mi frase favorita de ella sigue siendo: “Rezo todos los días para que Dios te envíe un novio, David. Al principio me pareció muy raro, pero me estoy acostumbrando”. Llevo una existencia feliz. Y, parte de esa felicidad es ser gay. No, no elegí ser gay. Al final sólo elegí vivir una vida auténtica, ser yo mismo. Incluso todos los años de tortu- ra en el closet, a pesar de las profundas cicatrices que dejaron, tuvieron su forro de arco iris. Salir del closet me obligó a profundizar en mí mismo, a encontrar un coraje que dudo que hubiera tenido de otra manera, me hizo mejor persona y profesor, y me presentó a algunas de las mejores personas de mi vida, incluyendo y especialmente a mi marido, Edgar.

Ha sido un viaje difícil, pero al final una gran aventura. No me lo habría perdido por nada del mundo.

El revestimiento del arcoiris

Por David Ellison

Nunca elegí ser gay. De hecho, pasé casi dos décadas intentando negarlo, huir de él, rezar para que desapareciera... cualquier cosa.

Gay Hiking www.lakechapalasociety.com

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Three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 16:30, a group of local women meet in the Ken Gosh Pavilion to practice the traditional craft of artistic embroidery. Their designs are original, and every piece is hand made. They have been doing so for more than five years. The number of women attending each work session may range from 10 to 15. Their designs vary from shirts and blouses to pillows and puppets. All designs reflect the colors of their surroundings, mostly in the form of flowers and birds. The women also accept individual orders made to your own taste.

Recently the women adopted the name of “Cooperative Colibri. The tradition of this handicraft was once practiced widely in the area as a source of income until the women’s hands were replaced by machines. A couple of the present members of the group knew Neill James as children and used her ample gardens as their playground and for mischief making, such as stealing peanuts from a bush and giving them to Paco, the resident and noisy parrot who could not be silenced so as not to reveal the children’s antics.

The children’s aunts and mothers, on the other hand, made themselves useful at doing various task and labors for Ms. James.

We are fortunate that by chance we encountered the op- portunity to recover the original art form of handmade, thread-by- thread “painting” amongst our enduring activities. During the LCS series of videotaped interviews of locals who had known Neill James personally, I had been assigned someone at a given address half a block from the LCS main entrance. However, this person did not live there.

Instead, I met Maria Lupita Vega, who during the interview told me that she once took over her mother’s store, called the “Pink Door”, where she sold her own embroidery products – an art she had learned from her mother. But because of health issues she had to give up the intensive embroidery work. However, she expressed her desire to teach other women the craft.

The LCS director at the time accepted our proposal and endowed her with 5,000.00 pesos seed money to buy the first batch of needed materials like cloth, threads, needles, and frames. Thus the “Colibri Cooperative” became one of the enduring local out- reach features of LCS programming.

The women have since taken part in all art fairs on the LCS campus and in the two years preceding the COVID pandemic were invited to the Feria de Los Maestros in Chapala and will be part of the Fair again next year.

While the additional income from any sales of their wares is certainly welcome, of equal importance are the therapeutical and emotional benefits of feeling valued over and above the house- hold chores and spending a couple of hours in a friendly gathering with their peers, learning from and encouraging each other. Like a family, they also celebrate each other’s birthdays and the birth of a grandchild.

The group is thankful for the ongoing support it has been receiving from the Lake Chapala Society, especially the provision of a suitable place for their gatherings because the Pavilion is open to the West and provides sufficient and suitable late afternoon sun- light for the choices and delicate coordination of colors.

What remains to be said is, that both newcomers and ex- patriates are welcome to join the group, by simply showing up at one of their sessions, by phoning Maria Lupita at 33.1075.9443, or visiting her at the store right next to St. Andrews Church in Ajijic on Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Those who are shy and believe that their Spanish is not good enough, not to worry. Much of the learning is visual. The women learn from each other. Besides, a couple of the women speak sufficient English to explain. It is also a chance to practice your Spanish, no matter how basic it may be and make some local friends. You will be most welcome.

On behalf of the “Colibris”,

Maria Lupita Vega and Karl Homann

ARTISTIC EMBROIDERY AT LCS

By Karl Homann and Maria Lupita Vega

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Tres veces a la semana, los lunes, miércoles y viernes a las 16:30, un grupo de mujeres locales se reúnen en el Pabellón Ken Gosh para practicar el oficio tradicional del bordado artístico. Sus diseños son originales, y cada pieza está hecha a mano. Lo han estado haciendo durante más de cinco años. El número de mujeres que asisten a cada sesión de trabajo oscila entre 10 y 15. Sus diseños varían desde camisas y blusas hasta almohadas y marionetas. Todos los diseños reflejan los colores de su entorno, principalmente en forma de flores y pájaros. Las mujeres también aceptan pedidos individuales hechos a su gusto.

Últimamente las mujeres adoptaron el nombre de

“Cooperativa Colibrí”.

La tradición de esta artesanía se practicó ampliamente en la zona como fuente de ingresos hasta que las manos de las mujeres fueron reemplazadas por máquinas. Un par de los miembros actuales del grupo conocían a Neill James cuando eran niños y usaban los amplios jardines como su patio de recreo y para hacer travesuras, como robar cacahuetes y dárselos a Paco, el loro residente y rui- doso que no podía ser silenciado para no revelar las travesuras de los niños. Las tías y madres de los niños, por otro lado, se hicieron útiles haciendo diversas tareas y trabajos para la Sra. James.

Somos afortunados de que por casualidad encontramos la oportunidad de recuperar la forma de arte original de la “pintura”

hecha a mano, hilo a hilo entre nuestras actividades perdurables.

Durante la serie de entrevistas grabadas en video de LCS de lu- gareños que habían conocido personalmente a Neill James, me habían asignado a alguien en una dirección determinada a media cuadra de la entrada principal de LCS. Sin embargo, esta persona no vivía allí.

En cambio, conocí a María Lupita Vega, quien durante la entrevista me dijo que una vez se hizo cargo de la tienda de su madre, llamada “Pink Door”, donde vendía sus propios productos de bordado, un arte que había aprendido de su madre. Pero debi- do a problemas de salud tuvo que renunciar al trabajo intensivo de bordado. Sin embargo, expresó su deseo de enseñarlo a otras mujeres.

El entonces director de la LCS aceptó nuestra propuesta y la dotó de 5,000.00 pesos semilla para comprar el primer lote de mate- riales necesarios como tela, hilos, agujas, y bastidores. Por lo tanto, la “Cooperativa Colibrí” se convirtió en una de las actividades de alcance local perdurables de la programación de LCS.

Desde entonces, las mujeres han participado en todas las ferias de arte en el campus de LCS y en los dos años anteriores a la

pandemia de COVID fueron invitadas a la Feria de Los Maestros en Chapala. Volverán a ser parte de la Feria el próximo año.

Si bien los ingresos adicionales de cualquier venta de sus productos son ciertamente bienvenidos, de igual importancia son los beneficios terapéuticos y emocionales de sentirse valorado por encima de las tareas domésticas y pasar un par de horas en una reunión amistosa con sus compañeras, aprender de cada uno y ani- marse mutuamente. Al igual como familia, celebran los cumpleaños suyos y el nacimiento de sus nietos.

l grupo está agradecido por el apoyo continuo que ha recibido de la Sociedad del Lago de Chapala, especialmente al proporcionar un lugar bien adecuado para sus reuniones porque está abierto hacia el oeste y proporciona suficiente y adecuada luz solar para la coordinación delicada de colores.

Lo que queda por decir es que tanto los recién llegados como los expatriados son bienvenidos a unirse al grupo, simplemente presentándose en una de las reuniones, llamando a Maria Lupita al 33.1075.9443, o visitándola en la tienda justo al lado de St. Andrews el martes y jueves por la mañana.

Para aquellos que son tímidos y que creen que su español no es lo suficientemente bueno, no se preocupen. Gran parte del aprendizaje es visual. Las mujeres aprenden unas de otras. Además, un par de mujeres hablan suficiente inglés para explicar una tarea.

También es una oportunidad para practicar algo de su español, sin importar lo básico que sea, y hacer amigos locales. Serán bienvenidas.

María Lupita Vega y Karl Homann

BORDADO ARTÍSTICO EN LCS

Por Karl Homann y Maria Lupita Vega

The original group of 2016

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The origin of the gay parade dates back to 1969, with the Stonewall riots in New York, when a group of homosexuals were arrested and harassed by police forces in the early morning of June 28th. This gave rise to the first public demonstrations as a rebellion against the authoritarian system of the United States. From there, the first LGBT demonstrations began, which continue to be a reference in the struggle for the recognition of the rights of the LGBTTTIQ population in the world. The following year, in June 1970, the first LGBT Pride march was held in New York.

This event, which marked a turning point in history, was declared the Inter- national Day of Sexual Diversity, and later, the month of June was declared Pride Month. This is why pride and diversity marches are held all over the world during June, accompanied by celebrations, festivities, diversity weeks, recreational, cultural, sporting, social and political events.

FIRST DEMONSTRATIONS IN MEXICO

On July 26, 1978, during the march for the anniversary of the Cuban Revo- lution, some thirty homosexuals, lesbians and transvestites who identified themselves as members of the Frente de Liberación Homosexual de México (Homosexual Liberation Front of Mexico) participated. A group of young people with the stubborn hope of changing the world and putting an end to the abuses faced by homosexuals, left from the Independence Column and walked along Lerma Street, where they were diverted by the police so as not to pass through Paseo de la Reforma.

Defiant ,and fueled with adrenaline, posters and slogans such as “There is no political freedom if there is no sexual freedom!” and “Without sexual freedom there will be no social liberation!” the marchers advanced. Perhaps without knowing it, with their steps they were writing a new episode in the public life of our country and in the struggle for the recognition of the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transvestite, transsexual and intersex (LGBTTTI+) people.

In June 1979, a contingent of around a thousand people arrived at the now defunct Plaza Carlos Finlay in Mexico City, and the route they marched was the antecedent of the first Gay Parade in Mexico. Although it was not the first public demon- stration of a group of homosexual people, it was the first one identified as such in our country. A few months later, more LGBTTTIQ+ civil society organizations emerged.

FIRST DEMONSTRATIONS IN GUADALAJARA

In 1983 the Grupo Orgullo Homo- sexual (GOHL) was born in Guada- lajara, headed by Pedro Preciado, an activist from that city. Preciado decided to create the group after the arbitrary and discriminatory deten- tions, illegal actions and harassment of homosexuals by the metropoli- tan police during the government of Flavio Romero de Velasco, which was characterized by repression of the gay community in the 80’s. The march was born on May 8, 1983.

The parade was born after years of struggle to carry it out and after several movements against homopho- bia in Guadalajara. Guadalajara was the second city in which openly gay movements sprouted, as well as demonstrations and marches de- manding equal rights for the LGBT community.

While the first gay demonstrations and organizations in Guadalajara were being strongly consolidated in the 80’s when gays were still being harassed by the then ultra-conser- vative government, nowadays the diversity parade event enjoys a re- spected reputation and every year sees better attendance and quality.

PRIDE PARADES FOR DIVERSITY

Juan Manuel Cobián

Advocacy Coordinator of Guadalajara Pride and General Director of Chapala Pride.

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www.lakechapalasociety.com The first public demonstrations of sexual diversity or

pride had a purely revolutionary charge: protest. The struggle was to achieve the full recognition and accep- tance of our rights by the authorities, focusing mainly on police repression, sexual freedom, political freedom, non-discrimination, and equality. Over the years marriage between people of the same sex has been included in that struggle.

However, the historical, political and social contexts have made the political struggle of sexual diversity have its own narratives. These demonstrations or protests have now been expanded to include festive elements such as music, dance, color, caravans, costumes, vehi- cles and decorated platforms as a means of expression.

They have become a party, a fiesta, and they are a state- ment of freedom to celebrate being LGBTTTIQ+ people.

They affirm our existence and presence with pride and dignity, an existence that sadly continues to be criminal- ized, stigmatized and demonized.

The Pride Parade celebrates the pride of being yourself.

Pride in the achievements obtained as a result of our struggle. Pride to continue standing up despite the ad- versity and discrimination suffered and the violence exercised even within the same family, work and/or social nucleus. Pride to not be ashamed of who we are, what- ever our sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

Pride is a mechanism of political defense against the tra- ditionalist, heterosexual, macho system used by those who believe that we differ from heteronormativity, which is expressed in actions of violence, discrimination, exclusion, and aggression that can end in hate crimes against the LGBTTTIQ+ population.

Currently the pride or diversity parades are spaces of free expression and manifestation of identity, of freedom for LGBTTTIQ+ people. They are moments of annual visibility, taking to the streets of the city to protest

discrimination and violence and demand recognition of our rights.

That struggle for freedom and rights continues to be championed in public demonstrations against oppres- sion, discrimination and inequality and against the lack of legislation and public policies, thereby reestablishing the sense that gave rise to these movements, accompanied by the brightness and color that characterizes us.

Currently there are several diversity parades throughout Mexico. In Jalisco alone we are have 15 diversity parades which are held in: Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Cha- pala, Tepatitlán, Lagos de Moreno, Atotonilco, Autlán, El Grullo, Ameca, Cuquío, Casimiro Castillo, Poncitlán, Arandas, Cocula, Sayula.

In 2022 Guadalajara Pride, the second largest parade in Mexico which in 2019 drew more than 130,000 people, will be held on Saturday, June 4, at 3:00 pm, starting from the Minerva traffic circle and following López Mateos Avenue, then along Hidalgo Avenue to Plaza Liberation. It will cul- minate with a show, a rally festival, with local and interna- tional artists. After 2 years of absence due to the Covid 19 pandemic, we will take to the streets again. The streets will be

ours again!

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One hot May afternoon I went to Brian Mattes house, where I was greeted by an entourage of 3 big dogs, who wouldn’t let me in because they were so excited. From that moment I knew this was going to be a very interesting or perhaps dramatic visit.

Brian was recently appointed president of Lakeside Little Theater and my intention was to interview him and learn about his plans. I started by asking him about his life before retirement. Originally from California, he spent much of his life in Pennsylvania working as a lobbyist, a word for which there is no easy explanation, but it is someone who works closely with congressmen providing relevant information for decision making. Interesting, I thought. Maybe he focused on the arts and that’s why his interest in theater. No, his work was mainly related to taxes, pensions, and investments.

When I asked him where his relationship with the theater came from he told me that he was a theater lover. He used to go whenever he could to see a production either where he lived, when he went on a trip ,or when he escaped to his favorite place: Broadway.

At this moment one of the three dogs that had received me had disappeared, another had settled on the couch next to me and the third was playing with a ball, which she hid under the table or the sofa to be given to her again, looking for Brian’s attention. He happily looked for it and threw it.

I confess that for a moment I thought the interview would end there and I would have to find another way to fill this space, but then I asked him, what is your favorite play?

His eyes lit up and he told me without hesitation: The Phan- tom of the Opera! I have seen it at least 10 times, 8 of which were on Broadway!

He had also read the book and discovered that the ending of the book and the play were not the same, so he wrote to the director to tell him about it. Only a real theater buff writes to the director of a Broadway play to complain about the ending: the best part of the story. The director wrote back, saying that Brian was the only person who had told him about it and he gave him an explanation of the technical issues behind the staging and the limitations to carry out the ending as in the book.

From there, he told me about the Andrew Lloyd Weber plays he had seen and many others, especially All the Way and Bry- an Cranston’s performance as Lyndon B Johnson for which he won a Tony.

His love of theater was evident to me, and I confess he men- tioned several other plays but I didn’t take notes on all of them! The question that followed now was to know how he had come to LLT?

January 2019 was the first time he went to LLT. He had recently been residing in the area and marveled at meeting so many intelligent, interesting and eager-to-collabo- rate-with-the-community people. He decided to start taking acting classes and in January 2020 he joined the board as Di- rector of Development, where he had the great challenge of facing a closed theater due to the pandemic. In October 2021 he participated as Jack in the play Everything in the Garden and the board, seeing his enthusiasm, invited him to run for president. He was elected.

Before taking office as president on May 1 and putting his ideas into play, in order to get a more complete picture he spoke with directors and actors about their concerns. As a result, he will seek to generate more cooperation, improve communication, provide master classes and workshops, and promote more theater to reach more audiences.

As he told me about his plans and all the people involved, I realized that the Lakeside Little Theater was not so little and that with Brian at the helm there will be great improvements.

It was a very interesting talk and although I had planned to be there for an hour, it was more than two hours!

Brian has a big heart for the theater and the community, and for animals. He has 7 dogs and 3 cats, all rescued.

Brian Mattes

and the not so Little Theater

By Diana Ayala

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Office & Library Hours: Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Grounds open: Lakeside Gate: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Main Gate: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.

NEW ACTIVITIES:

• US Voter Registration

Beginning March 28, on Mondays from 10am-1pm on the Blue Umbrella Patio

Democrats Abroad sponsors voter registration. Open to all US citizens to register and request ballots for voting.

Votefrombroad.org,

Larry.Pihl, 331-704-6475, [email protected]

• Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

12 Steps and traditions applied to compulsive overeaters, anorexic and bulimic eaters.

Dave MacMillan, [email protected]

Lakeside Insurance T+TH 11-2

Shiatsu Chair Massage 2nd & 4rd TH 10-12 Appointment only, call 331-604-0971

HEALTH & LEGAL SERVICES*

Becerra Immigration TH 10:30-12:30

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333-408-0951

SkyMed 1st F 10-12

Solbes & Solbes 2nd Monday 10-12

SERVICE & SUPPORT GROUPS *

Al-Anon (Spanish) M 6-7:30, W 5:30-7:30

ASA Board Meeting Last W, 10:30-12

Caregivers of Spouses with Dementia T 11:30-1:30 (Support Group)

Diabetes Support Group Zoom, 1st F 11:00

welchk4diabetes@gmail .com

Information Desk M-Sat 10-2

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Needle Pushers T 10-11:45

Open Circle Sun 10:30-11:30

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LESSONS (M)

Beginners Chess for Seniors M 1:30-2:30

Bordado Artistico (Spanish) M+W+F 4-6

Children’s Art SAT 10-12 Invitation only

Dance Fitness M 10-11

Exercise M+W+F 9-9:50

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Hurachess Club* SAT 12-1*

Intermediate Hatha Yoga T 2-3:30

Introduction to Spanish (S) T, 7,14,21 June ,12:30-2. Cost Introduction to Lakeside M 9-12, June 13 campus Joy of Movement F 10-11, beginning June 17

F 9-12 June 10 Zoom Line Dancing, [email protected] T + TH 10-11:15

Stretch & Balance, T+TH 8:45-9:45

[email protected] Spanish in Action classes (español en acción) See LCS website

or in the office for more info Spanish a la carta Online program, See LCS website/more info

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Tech Help via Email [email protected] Write to a Prompt Writers’ Group TH 10-12

LIBRARIES (M)

Book + DVD Libraries M-SAT 10-2

Books on Tape & Library of Congress Talking Books. To order books on-line, you must use a computer or a tablet/iPad. It is not possible to order using a cell phone. Go to lakechapalasociety.

com & select libraries/English.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES (M)

American Man Jongg TH 10-1

Bridge4Fun T+F 1-4:30

Discussion Group W 12-1:30

English/Spanish Conversation* Open to public Sat 12-1:30*

Everyday Mindfulness M June 6,20,27 10:30-12 Campus M June 13 10:30-12 Zoom

Game Group TH 1-4

HOT Science Zoom, [email protected] T1:45

Scrabble F 11:30-1:30

Tournament Scrabble T 12-1:50

HEALTH INSURANCE*

Hospital San Antonio TH 10-12

IMSS & Immigration Services M+T 10-1 ; Call for Appointment 333-157-9472 No sign up

*Open to the Public (S) Sign up (C) Member card (M) LCS members only

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In keeping with the theme of this issue of Conec- ciones, the LCS library would like to add to the celebration of Pride month by making our readers aware of our rich collection of books about LGBTQ issues.

For readers who might be looking for historical information on LGBTQ issues, we suggest To Believe in Women [What Lesbians Have Done for America], described as a landmark work of lesbian history focusing the battle to secure the rights and privileges that large numbers of Americans enjoy today; Queers in History [Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical LGLBTs] which is hailed as the first comprehensive biographical compendium of important historical and contemporary figures who were/are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. From Egyptian pharaohs, Catholic popes, and Abraham Lincoln to Neil Patrick Harris and Angelina Jolie; or The Gay Metropolis, a social and political history of modern gay life focusing on New York City and describing the gay rights movement and prominent gay figures.

Interesting memoirs in our collection include Love, Ellen: A Mother Daughter Journey by Betty DeGeneres about her famous daughter Ellen; Pleasures of a Tangled Life, an anecdotal memoir by Jan Morris of her colorful life, controversial sex-change operation, and journey to self-dis- covery; and the 2020 bestseller and winner of numerous

Library Updates

awards How We Fight for Our Lives by poet Saeed Jones where he explores coming of age as

a young, black, gay man from the South.

For our members who prefer great storytelling, the library has a diverse collection of interesting titles to choose from. These include books written by gay or lesbian authors as well as stories with LGBTQ protagonists. Some are well- known, while others might be unfamiliar to our readers.

Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City series is beloved by readers everywhere as are the works of Ruby Mae Brown, including the landmark coming-of-age novel Rubyfruit Jungle.

Other titles to check out include Tipping the Velvet by Sar- ah Waters; Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin and Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson.

And finally who can forget the popular TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy? Did you know that you can read the guys’ advice in the book, The Fab 5’s Guide to Looking Better, Cooking Better, Dressing Better, Behaving Better, and Living Better?

Happy Pride Month and Happy Reading from the volunteers at the LCS library!

THE LAKE CHAPALA SOCIETY

Music Accompanies Us: LGBTIQ+ Stories

is a dramatized reading of stories by Rob Hernández.

The readings, excerpted from the book “Sarao, LGBTIQ+ Stories”, will be accompanied by classical piano, with sexual diversity undertones, and performed by Emm Ceballos.

It is worth mentioning that The Lake Chapala Society is sponsoring this presentation in Ajijic, which is part of the Centro Cultural González Gallo’s extra-mural program.

In this way, the power of museums to promote respect and inclusion can be extended to other spaces.

Saturday, June 25 at 6:00 p.m.

Centro Cultural González Gallo (Spanish) Sunday, June 26 at 12:30 p.m.

Lake Chapala Society. (English) Rob Hernández Emm Ceballos

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www.lakechapalasociety.com Una acalorada tarde de mayo fui a casa

de Brian, donde fui recibida por una comitiva de 3 grandes perros, los cuales no me dejaban entrar de tan emocio- nados que estaban, desde ese momen- to supe que esta sería una visita muy interesante o dramática.

Brian fue nombrado recientemente presidente del Lakeside Little Theater, la idea era entrevistarlo y conocer sobre sus planes. Empecé por preguntarle sobre su vida antes de retirarse; originario de California gran parte de su vida la pasó en Pensilvania trabajando como lobbyist, palabra para la cual no hay una traducción al español, pero es alguien que trabaja de cerca con los congresistas proveyendo de información relevante para la toma de decisiones. Interesante, pensé, tal vez se enfocó en las artes y por eso su interés en el teatro. No, su trabajo se relacionaba con impuestos, pensiones, inversiones principalmente.

Entonces le pregunté, ¿de dónde viene su relación con el teatro? Y me dijo que era un amante del teatro, que solía acudir cada que podía a ver alguna pro- ducción ya fuera en donde vivía, si salía de viaje o escaparse a su lugar favorito:

Broadway.

En este momento de los tres perros que me habían recibido uno se había ido, otra se acomodó en el sillón de al lado y una más jugaba con una pelota, la cual escondía debajo de la mesa o del sofá para que se la entregaran nuevamente, buscando la atención de Brian, quien feliz la buscaba y la lanzaba.

Confieso que por un momento pensé que la entrevista terminaría ahí y ten- dría que buscar la manera de llenar el espacio, así que ahora le pregunté, ¿cuál

se le iluminaron y me dijo sin dudarlo:

El fantasma de la Ópera, la he visto al menos unas 10 veces, 8 de las cuales en Broadway; además había leído el libro y descubrió que el final del libro y el de la obra no eran iguales, así que le escribió al director para comentarle al respecto.

Solamente un real apasionado por el teatro le escribe al director de una obra de teatro de Broadway para reclamarle por el final, la mejor parte de la historia, le respondió, diciendo que él era la única persona que le había dicho algo al respecto. Y le brindó una explicación de las cuestiones técnicas detrás de la pues- ta en escena y las limitantes para llevar a cabo el final como en el libro.

De ahí, me platicó de las obras de Andrew Lloyd Weber que había visto y muchas otras más. Resaltando la de All the Way y la actuación de Bryan Cranston como Lyndon B Johnson por la que ganó un Tony.

Su amor por el teatro me fue eviden- te, confieso que mencionó varias otras obras y no alcancé a tomar notas de todas; la pregunta que seguía ahora, era saber ¿cómo había llegado al LLT?

En enero 2019 fue la primera vez que fue al LLT, tenía poco residiendo en la zona y se maravilló de conocer a mu- cha gente inteligente, interesante y con

Así decidió empezar a tomar clases de actuación y en enero 2020 se integró en la mesa directiva como Director de Desarrollo, donde tuvo el gran reto de enfrentar un teatro cerrado la pandemia.

En octubre 2021 participó como Jack en la obra Everything in the Garden; la mesa directiva al ver su entusiasmo lo invitó a postularse como presidente y fue elegido.

Antes de tomar posesión como presidente el pasado 1 de mayo y poner en marcha sus ideas, platicó con directores y actores sobre sus inquietudes, eso le dio un panorama más completo; buscará generar más cooperación, mejorar la co- municación; clases magistrales, talleres.

Promover más al teatro, llegar a más audiencia.

Mientras me platicaba sus planes y todas las personas involucradas, caí en cuenta que el teatro no era tan pequeño y que con Brian al frente vendrán grandes mejoras. Fue una plática muy interesante, yo tenía planeado estar ahí una hora y fueron más de dos horas.

Brian tiene un gran corazón por el teatro y la comunidad, además tiene 7 perros y 3 gatos, todos rescatados.

Brian Mattes y el no tan pequeño teatro.

Por Diana Ayala

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El origen de las marchas de la diversidad se remonta al año de 1969, con los disturbios de Stonewall Nueva York, cuando un grupo de homosexuales fueron reprimidos por las fuerzas policíacas la madrugada del 28 de junio, surgiendo las primeras manifestaciones públicas como rebelión al sistema autoritario de los Estados Unidos. De allí parten las primeras manifestaciones LGBT que siguen marcando una referencia en la lucha por el reconocimiento de los derechos de la población LGBTTTIQ en el mundo. El siguiente año, en junio de 1970, se realiza la primera marcha por el Orgullo LGBT en Nueva York.

Este acontecimiento que marcó la historia como un pun- to de inflexión, es declarado el día internacional de la diversidad sexual, y posteriormente junio mes del orgullo;

razón por la cual se realizan las marchas del orgullo y la diversidad en todo el mundo, acompañadas de cele- braciones, festejos, semanas de la diversidad, eventos recreativos, culturales, deportivos, sociales y políticos.

PRIMERAS MANIFESTACIONES EN MÉXICO El 26 de julio de 1978, durante la marcha por el aniversa- rio de la Revolución Cubana, participó una treintena de homosexuales, lesbianas y travestis que se identificaron como integrantes del Frente de Liberación Homosexual de México. Un grupo de jóvenes con la terca esperanza de cambiar el mundo y acabar con los abusos a los que se enfrentaban las personas homosexuales; partieron de la columna de la Independencia y caminaron por la calle de Lerma desviados por la Policía para no transitar por el Paseo de la Reforma.

Desafiantes y entre adrenalina, carteles y consignas como “¡No hay libertad política si no hay libertad sexual!”

y “¡Sin libertad sexual no habrá liberación social!” las y los asistentes avanzaban y, quizá sin saber, con sus pasos escribían un nuevo episodio en la vida pública de nuestro país y en la lucha por el reconocimiento de los derechos de las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero, travestis, transexuales e intersexuales (LGBTTTI+).

En junio 1979, los contingentes, que juntaban a alrededor de mil personas, llegaron a la hoy extinta Plaza Carlos Finlay de la Ciudad de México, con su recorrido marcaron el an- tecedente de la primera Marcha del Orgullo Homosexual de México. Si bien no es la primera manifestación pública

de un grupo de personas homosexuales, sí se trató de la primera identificada como tal en nuestro país. Pocos meses después surgen más organizaciones de la sociedad civil de la población LGBTTTIQ+.

PRIMERAS MANIFESTACIONES EN GUADALAJARA En 1983 nace en Guadalajara el Grupo Orgullo Homosexual (GOHL) encabezado por Pedro Preciado un activista tapatío quién decide crear dicho grupo tras las detenciones arbitrarias y discriminatorias, acciones ilegales y acoso a los homosexuales por parte de la policía metropolitana durante el gobierno de Flavio Romero de Velasco el cual se caracterizó por la represión hacia la comunidad gay en la década de los 80´s.

La marcha nació el 8 de mayo de 1982, después de años de lucha por llevarla a cabo y después de varios movimientos contra la homofobia en Guadalajara, fue la segunda ciudad en la que los movimientos abiertamente gays brotaran, así también como manifestaciones y marchas, exigiendo igualdad de derechos para la comunidad LGBT.

Mientras que las primeras manifestaciones y organizaciones gay en Guadalajara se fueron consolidando fuertemente en la década de los 80 quienes seguían siendo hostigadas por el entonces gobierno ultra con- servador, en la actualidad el evento de la marcha de la diversidad goza de una organización respetable y cada año una mejor difusión y calidad.

Las primeras manifestaciones públicas de la diversidad sexual o del orgullo, tenían un cargo meramente revolucionario, de protesta, de lucha por lograr que las autoridades realizarán el pleno reconocimiento y aceptación de nuestros derechos, volcándose principalmente en contra de las represiones policíacas, la libertad sexual, la libertad política, la no discriminación, la igualdad, con los años se agrega el matrimonio entre personas del mismo sexo.

Sin embargo, los contextos históricos, políticos y sociales han hecho que la lucha política de la diversidad sexual, tenga sus propias narrativas, estas manifestaciones o protestas se han reforzado al incluir elementos de corte festivo, como lo son música, bailes, fiesta, color, carava- nas, disfraces, vehículos y plataformas adornadas, como un espacio de expresión, de libertad al celebrar el orgullo

MARCHAS POR LA DIVERSIDAD

Juan Manuel Cobián

Coordinador de Incidencia Política de Guadalajara Pride y Director General de Chapala Pride.

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www.lakechapalasociety.com de ser personas LGBTTTIQ+, para enunciar con orgullo

y dignidad nuestra existencia y presencia, existencia que sigue siendo criminalizada, estigmatizada y satanizada.

El orgullo de ser tu misma, tu mismo, de los logros ob- tenidos a raíz de esta lucha, del orgullo por seguir de pie a pesar de las adversidades, discriminaciones sufridas y las violencias ejercidas incluso hasta por el mismo núcleo familiar, laboral y social. De no avergonzarse de lo que se es, sea cual fuere su orientación sexual, su identidad o expresión de género.

El Orgullo como un mecanismo de defensa política, contra del sistema tradicionalista, heterosexual, ma- chista utilizado por quienes creen que diferimos de la heteronormatividad que se concreta en acciones de violencia, discriminación, exclusión, agresiones que pueden terminar en crímenes de odio contra la población LGBTTTIQ+.

En la actualidad las marchas del orgullo o la diversidad son espacios de libre expresión y manifestación, de identidad, de libertad, propios de las personas LGBTTTIQ+, significando momentos únicos de visibilidad anuales, tomando las calles de la ciudad en protesta a la dis- criminación, violencias y reconocimiento de nuestros derechos. Se sigue abanderando la lucha por la libertad y el derecho, como manifestaciones públicas contra la opresión, la discriminación y la desigualdad, contra la fal- ta de legislación y políticas públicas, retomando el sen- tido que dió origen a estos movimientos, acompañados de la fiesta, el brillo y color que nos caracteriza.

Actualmente se realizan diversas marchas de la diversidad en todo México, en Jalisco ya somos 15 marchas de la diversidad se realizan en: Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, Tepatitlán, Lagos de Moreno, Atotonilco, Autlán, El Grullo, Ameca, Cuquío, Casimiro Castillo, Poncitlán, Arandas, Cocula, Sayula

En 2022 el Guadalajara Pride, la segunda marcha más grande de México, al reunir en 2019 más de 130,000 personas, se realizará el sábado 4 de junio, a las 15:00 horas, partiendo de la glorieta la Minerva, siguiendo por la avenida López Mateos, la avenida Hidalgo hasta plaza liberación.

Culminando con un show, mitin festival con artistas locales e internacionales. A 2 años de ausencia por la pandemia de Covid 19, ¡volveremos a tomar las calles, las calles volverán a

ser nuestras!

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Community is what humans depend on whether we wish to acknowledge it or not. Without it, we’d live in a state of des- peration and fear. Since forming a musical duo and aptly call- ing ourselves BRANDEN & JAMES, we’ve been coming to Jalisco to play shows in Puerto Vallarta, and have since always escaped for a long weekend to make music in the beautiful, magical community of Ajijic near Lake Chapala. The air is fresh, and the special energy engrosses each time us as we ride down the hill from our journey from the Zapopan bus station.

As soon as we stepped foot into this breathtaking community, we knew we were going to be received respect- fully. As married, LGBTQ+ individuals who travel the world, we don’t always feel as welcome wherever we may land.

Branden has always known his mom’s heritage was Mexican and Spanish. Only recently, Branden delved further into his roots with 23 and me, and discovered that his mother’s Mexi- can ancestry specifically comes from Jalisco. That, along with the friendly spirits of the Mexican people must explain why we keep coming back.

The first time we laid our eyes on Lake Chapala, we were mesmerized. We arrived in the late afternoon on a typical, January day. Having come from New York, the weather felt like a relief to us, and we immediately decided to go for a jog on the malecón we’d spotted on our quick car tour through downtown. After a sweaty run of a few trips from one end of the malecón to the other, we sat on a bench and watched the sun set on the lake whilst we caught our breath from the unforgiving 5,000 feet of altitude. As the sun dove below the mountains in front of us, the scene brilliantly morphed from orange, and then to purple. Long, slender birds resting on lily pads were silhouetted against the glassy backdrop as they grazed on their evenings’ feed. The mountains cascaded above us from all sides, and the slivered moon peeked its head out as a satisfying evening chill descended upon us. We decided it was time to have a shower, discover a new place to eat, and then turn in for the night. We had our first performances in the area the following day which consisted of two shows at the community’s massive Auditorium Theatre.

The small town of Ajijic is ruled by locals, and re- spectfully inhabited by tourists and retirees of other countries origins. The streets are mostly made of cobblestone, and there are an astounding number of charming murals lining its walls.

Despite being unknowns in the area, we had great crowds of music lovers who were mostly curious about the role of the cello (played by Australian James Clark) in the group. Along with Puerto Vallarta, it was this amazing community that first gave us the impetus to be ourselves, without apology. The invitation was in the air; all we had to do was seize upon it. The more we revealed in our shows, the more the audiences were sincere about the information they were receiving.

Since 2016, we’ve kicked off our Mexico season in

Ajijic. After the Auditorium Theatre, we moved to the Spot- light Club, once owned by Mark Robert Rome for a couple of seasons. It was there we were connected with Steve Bal- four who asked us if we would do some fundraising concerts for The Lake Chapala Society. Steve invited us for a tour of LCS to see what was hiding behind its tattered walls. We were mesmerized as Steve explained the vision he had for LCS to be restored to its former glory, and even go well beyond what it once was to give back to the community.

Now, we look forward to starting our Mexico season in Chapala before heading to the much more competitive and hectic scenario in Puerto Vallarta. It has become a soft-open- ing of sorts for our new show ideas. While we are very much open about our marital status, and our relationship, our music doesn’t necessarily reflect that of typical gay artists. There is no crass humor, nor techno music, nor drag costumes that appear in our performances, and we’re ok with that. For the first few seasons, we were trying to please the demographic that has a hunger for such flash, but we’ve realized instead that we are classical-crossover musical artists who happen to be gay. Our true audience is the retired demographics that line the shores alongside Chapala and Ajijic.

Isn’t that how it should be? We can all coexist and appreciate good art and music regardless of our differences.

As Branden says, “music is the language that brings us all together,” after all.

Without community, Mexico’s largest freshwater lake would just be another suburban pueblo. With the Lake Chapala Society as a cornerstone of the community, the area has turned into a rich cultural center that bestows the gifts of fine entertainment, cuisine, and nature in droves. As long as we play shows in Mexico, we will always support the endeav- ors of the Lake Chapala Society.

Written by Branden James, a season 8 finalist of Amer- ica’s Got Talent, the lead singer of the duo, BRANDEN &

JAMES, and award-winning author of Lyrics Of My Life.

If you’d like to get to know BRANDEN & JAMES a bit better, please visit: https://linktr.ee/brandenandjames.

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